Collapsible carrier for outboard motors



Oct. 11, 1949. a. H. BlNZ COLLAP,SIBLE CARRIER FDR OUTBOARD MOTORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 18, 1947 Oct. 11, 1949.

G. H. BINZ I COLLAPSIBLE CARRIER FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18, 1947 a i'farzzgy G. H. BINZ COLLAPSIBLE CARRIER FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Oct. 11, 1949;

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 18, 1947 Oct. 11, 1949. e. BINZ 2,484,677

COLLAPSIBLE CARRIER FOR OUTBOARD MO'IGRS Filed Nov. 18, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet '4 IIIIIIIIII/ Patented Oct. 11, 1949 J NITED GOLLAPVSIBI'JEQGARRIER FOR OUTBOARD s... OTQRS er zmawopipnl.

- Application-Novem r 18, 1947, 1Serial No; 786,556-

This invention relates collapsible carrier for ,outboard motors, and. -is more particularly concerned with the proyision of a carrier adapted for .use in transporting an.'Qutr board motor from place=to place with. aminimum amount of effort, and which may be readily. col-.- lapsed to form a relatively compact'unit suitable for shipping or storage. i p

This invention furtherv contemplates the..prQ-.: vision of a carrier.adapted to support :an out:- board motor in a substantially-horizontal. plane and with the major portion...of;the.weight. Ofgthfi motor disposed upon asingle supporting .wheel.

This invention furthercontemplatesiha-provision of a carrier adapted to bepositiqned tosup: port an outboard motor in an upright position to permit testing of the motor or'repairs thereto, orstorage. V H g It is a further object ofithisinventione 0. pin; vide a motor carrier having apaireoj tubular side rails which converge inwardly toward-each other at their forward ends foruniversal engagement with a fork member provided .to receivevlaswheela During transportationof a motor'iupon' thecar: rier, the wheel is positioned and securedin paralelel alignment with the. longitudinal axissofnthe carrier. When the carrier. is-..collapse'd, the wheel is adapted to be pivoted'inwardly' and-rotated through an arc of 90 to'formlwith'zla frame a compact unit suitable for'shippingzorstorages."

This invention embodies other: novel Ifeatures, details of constructionandarrangementof parts which are hereinafter set for-th inv the'ispecifica tion and claims, and illustrated inthe accom= panying drawings wherein: 1- .;f W

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a collapsiblerar rier for outboard motors, embodyingrfeatliresof this invention, the carrier-being illustrated niits extended position a. .j. 55;; 1:1;

Fig. 2 is a side elevationahview illustratin-githe carrier in its collapsed or foldednpositiom Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional: view takeli along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 4 is an enlargedsectional viewst the line 44 of Fig. 1. 7 i a 1 Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail-sectional-yiew -talgen are, alo g along the line 5-5 ofFig.-1. 5 Fig. 6 is a side elevational view',partly-"in-section, illustrating the method of-arr-anging= thje carrier parts to support an-outhoard motor ii an upright position. Y I Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 7 1 of Fig-143; Fig. 8 is a sectional view take'nalo'n 8-8 of Fig. '7.-

to. improvements inea m Y 1 .15 -Fig. 9 is a front elevational view showing the carrier. i

. .Fig. 10 is av detail sectional view taken along theline Ifll.0 of Fig. 3. Fig..11 is a detail sectional view taken along thelinel lll.of Fig. 5. Referring now to the drawings for a better under-standing of thisinvention. the, motor car rienis shown as comprising a pair. of side frame members--22 whichare preferably formedfrom tubular steel and bent ,downwardly at their for; ward ends to form a pair of forward supporting legs 37-3. The side frame members 2-2 are cone nected .together adjacent their rear ends. by means "of a transverse tubular member 4, bracke ets;5 5, rand a bolt 6 which is .threaded atits one end to receive a Wing nut 1. v a rL'Eachi bracket is formed from sheet metal ,to provide a tubular portion 8 to snugly receive its respective side, framev member 2. and with a ,pair of,- fiangeportions 9 and l Iwhich are spot welded atrlz rinfaCe-tO-face relation. The: flange. Sis formed-with an annular flange 13 to receivethe adjacent end of the cross member 4 and .to define an aperture. to. receive the end of the bolt 6. The flange I I isialso formed with an aperture tore ceive the bolt 15. vA pair of supporting legs 14 -14, formed of, tubular steel, are flattened at their upper,ends,at IGandspot weldedto an annular .platejl'l. formed with a plurality of protuberances 18; for engagement in recesses l9 formed in the flange portions 9 and H of each bracket 5. The fiattenedi portion 16 of each leg and its annular plate -.=I'l' areformed with coaxial apertures to receivethe bolt 6. ,A transverse tubular member 2] is welded or brazed at its ends to thejower ends of-the supporting legs l4?l,4... If desired; therends of the supportinglegs may be provided with rubbemcups 22. I l -i.-.The ends. of the forward supporting legs 3T3 are connected together by means of a wheel supporting. bracket 23 which is welded thereto. -The wheel-supporting bracket is preferably formedof sheet steel to provide a body portion 24 havin anupturned flange 26 and a. pair of downturned ears. 21.'--.2'l arranged in spaced parallel relation. The body, portion 24 is bent upwardly at its'side edges to provide apair of side fianges.28'-'-28. for welded engagement to their respective forward supporting legs 3--3. The flange 26 is also Welded to the ends of the forward supporting legs 3-3." A wheel-29 is-journaled at 3| on a fork member 32;;vvl'1ich is preferably formed of steel tubing; The-fork member 32' is mounted for rotational movement about it'slongitudinal axis bylmean 3 of a bolt or rivet 33 which extends through an aperture provided in the fork member and an aperture provided in a pivot bracket 34. The pivot bracket 34 is formed at its ends with ears 36 disposed in spaced parallel alignment for engagement with their respective ears 21. Each of said ears 2'! and 36 are provided with coaxial apertures to receive rivets or bolts 31. A plate 38 is welded to the inner sides of the legs" forming the fork member 32 for abutting engagement against the plate 24 when the fork 32 is disposed in its extended operative position. The fork member is held in this operative position by means of a flat spring member 39 having its one end secured to the plate 38 by means of a rivet 4i and its other end formed with an abutment shoulder 42 for engagement behind the flange 26 of the plate 24.

An outboard motor support is shown as comprising a pair of angle plates 43-43 disposed in spaced parallel alignment and having their ends welded, brazed or otherwise secured to the inner sides of the frame members 2-2. A plate 44, formed with front, rear and side flanges '46, 4'! and 48-48, respectively, is secured to the angle members 43-43 by means of spot welding, bolts or other suitable fastening means, Apair'of handles 5l-5l, preferably formed of steel tubing, are mounted for telescopic movement within the side frame members 2-2. The end of each side frame member 2 is formed with a tapered thread 52 to receive an internally threaded clamping nut 53. The end of each side frame member 2 is split longitudinally at two or more places to provide a plurality of resilient finger portions 54 for clamping engagement against the outer surface of a handle '5! when the locking collar 53 is threaded inwardly onto a side frame member 2. Rubber cups 55 are provided 'on the outer ends of the handles 5 [-5 I. 1

the use of the carrier in transporting an outboard motor, the fork member 32 is secured i'nits extended position by means of the latch spring 39, and the rear legs l4-l4 are secured in adjusted position as illustrated in Fig. 3 in the drawings. The outboard motor, generally indicated at 60, is secured to the motor mounting plate 44 by means of a pair of clamping screws 6| which 'are'threaded through one leg of a C-type clamping bracket 62. When a motor is supported in an inclined position upon the carrier, as illustrated in Fig. 3, it will be noted that the heaviest portion of the outboard motor is positioned above the wheel 29 and further that anywater collected within the propeller end of the outboard motor will not flow upwardly along the propeller shaft housing and thence into the head of the'motor.

In handling outboard motors after same have been in operation on a boat, it is well known by the operators that it is necessary to always maintain the head of the motor at a higher elevation than the propeller end to prevent water from entering the motor head through open ports. By constructing the carrier with a motor mounting plate inclined downwardly toward the rear end of'the carrier, the motor is always disposed inan inclined plane with the motor head adjacent the "wheel 29 and at a higher elevation than the propeller end. After the motor has been mounted upon the carrier, the carrier is adapted .to; be manually moved by engaging the handles 5|.

Prior to mounting an outboard motor in a boat, it is often necessary to test the motor and to adjust the parts thereof. This operation may readily be performed by disposing the carrier :in an up:

' frame members.

l 4 i right position, as illustrated in Fig. 6. When the carrier is arranged in its upright position, it will be noted that the rear legs I 4-! 4 are pivoted rearwardly and secured in adjusted position by means of the bolt 6 and wing nut l. To insure against accidental displacement of the legs, the legs are provided with protuberances ill for engagement in the apertures l9 formed in the brackets 5-5 The carrier may readily be collapsed or folded to form a compact unit, as illustrated in Fig. 2, by merely releasing the latch 39 to permit the fork member-to be pivoted inwardly against the underside of the frame members 2-2, the fork member 32 being rotated during its pivotal movement to dispose the fiat side of the wheel adjacent the The rear legs l4-l4 are then folded inwardly and clamped in position by means of the bolts 6 and wing nut I, the crossbar 2| serving to prevent outward pivotal movement of the fork member 32. The handles 5I-5l are moved inwardly through the frame members, and then clamped against outward movement by means of the locking collars 53 and resilient fingers 54. It will be noted that the carrier thus shown and described is adapted for use in supporting an outboard motor in either a'horizontal or vertical plane, and that the carrier may be readily collapsed or folded to provide a compact, lightweight unit suitable for shipping or storage.

*While this invention has been shown in but one form, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. i

I claim as my invention:

1. In a carrier for outboard motors, a pair of side frame members disposed in spaced relation, the forward portions of said side frame members being angularly disposed to provide a pair of downwardly projecting forward legs, wheel means mounted on the lower ends of said forward legs, a motor mounting plate secured in fixed position upon said side frame members at their points of junction with the upper ends of said forward legs, said motor mounting plate being mounted in a plane disposed at an angle to the plane of the side members and inclined downwardly and rearwardly from a horizontal plane to support outboard motor in an inclined position with the head end of the outboard motor disposed above and adjacent said wheel means and the propeller end of the outboard motor projecting rearwardly and downwardly to a lower elevation than the head end, and a pair of rear legs pivotally connected to and projecting downwardly from said side frame members, the distance from the rear ends of said side frame members to the points of pivotal connection with said rear legs being substantially equal to the length of said rear legs, whereby an outboard motor may be supported in either an inclined plane during movement of the carrier or in a vertical plane during storage of the motor.

2. In a carrier for outboard motors, apalr of side frame members disposed in spaced relation, the forward portions of said side frame members being angularly disposed to provide a pair of downwardly projecting forward legs, wheel means mounted on the lower ends of saidforward legs, a motor mounting plate secured in fixed position upon said side frame members at their points'of juncture with the upper ends of: said forward legs, said motor mounting plate being mounted in a plane disposed at an angle to the plane of the side members and inclined downwardly and rearwardly from a horizontal plane to support an outboard motor in an inclined position with the head end of the outboard motor disposed above and adjacent said wheel means and the propeller end of the outboard motor projecting rearwardly and downwardly to a lower elevation than the head end, and a pair of rear legs pivotally connected to and projecting downwardly from said side frame members, the distance from the rear ends of said side frame members to the points of pivotal connection with said rear legs being substantially equal to the length of said rear legs, whereby an outboard motor may be supported in either an inclined plane during movement of the carrier or in a vertical plane during storage of the motor, and means to secure said rear legs in angularly adjusted position with respect to said side frame members.

3. In a carrier for outboard motors, a pair of side frame members disposed in spaced relation, the forward portions of said side frame members being angularly disposed to provide a pair of downwardly projecting forward legs, a wheel fork mounted on the front ends of said forward legs, a wheel journaled on said fork, a motor mounting plate secured in fixed position upon said side frame members at their points of juncture with the upper ends of said forward legs, said motor mounting plate being mounted in a plane disposed at an angle to the plane of the side members and inclined downwardly and rearwardly from a horizontal plane to support an outboard motor in an inclined position with the head end of the cut board motor disposed above and adjacent said wheel means and the propeller end of the outboard motor projecting rearwardly and downwardly to a lower elevation than the head end, and a pair of rear legs pivotally connected to and projecting downwardly from said side frame members, the distance from the rear ends of said side frame members to the points of pivotal connection with said rear legs being substantially equal to the length of said rear legs, whereby an outboard motor may be supported in either an inclined plane during movement of the carrier or in a vertical plane during storage of the motor, and means to secure said rear legs in angularly adjusted position with respect to said side frame members.

4. In a carrier for outboard motors, a pair of side frame members disposed in spaced relation, the forward portions of said side frame members being angularly disposed to provide a pair of downwardly projecting forward legs, a wheel fork mounted on the front ends of said forward legs, a wheel journaled on said fork, a motor mounting plate secured in fixed position upon said side frame members at their points of juncture with the upper ends of said forward legs, said motor mounting plate being mounted in a plane disposed at an angle to the plane of the side members and inclined downwardly and rearwardly from a horizontal plane to support an outboard motor in an inclined position with the head end of the outboard motor disposed above and adjacent said wheel means and the propeller end of the outboard motor projecting rearwardly and downwardly to a lower elevation than the head end, and a pair of rear legs pivotally connected to and projecting downwardly from said side frame members, the distance from the rear ends of said side frame members to the points of pivotal connection with said rear legs being substantially equal to the length of said rear legs, whereby an outboard motor may be supported in either an inclined plane during movement of the carrier or in a vertical plane during storage of the motor, and means to secure said rear legs in angularly adjusted position with respect to said side frame members, said wheel fork being mounted for rotational and pivotal movement relative to said side frame members.

5. In a carrier for outboard motors, a pair of side frame members disposed in spaced relation, the forward portions of said side frame members being angularly disposed to provide a pair of downwardly projecting forward legs, a wheel fork mounted on the front ends of said forward legs, a wheel journaled on said fork, a motor mounting plate secured in fixed position upon said side frame members at their points of juncture with the upper ends of said forward legs, said motor mounting plate being mounted in a plane disposed at an angle to the plane of the side members and inclined downwardly and rearwardly from a horizontal plane to support an outboard motor in an inclined position with the head end of the outboard motor disposed above and adjacent said wheel means and the propeller end of the outboard motor projecting rearwardly and downwardly to a lower elevation than the head end, and a pair of rear legs pivotally connected to and projecting downwardly from said side frame members, the distance from the rear ends of said side frame members to the points of pivotal connection with said rear legs being substantially equal to the length of said rear legs, whereby an outboard motor may be supported in either an inclined plane during movement of the carrier or in a vertical plane during storage of the motor, and means to secure said rear legs in angularly adjusted position with respect to said side frame members, said wheel fork being mounted for rotational and pivotal movement relative to said side frame members, and latch means to engage said wheel fork against pivotal movement when said fork is in its distended operative position.

GUSTAVE HARDER BINZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 913,487 Fleischmann Feb. 23, 1909 1,747,600 Reardon Feb. 18, 1930 1,795,812 Whiting Mar. 10, 1931 1,823,816 Chittenden Sept. 15, 1931 1,845,529 Suarez Feb. 16, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 756,382 France Sept. 18, 1933 

